THE ELVES AND THE SHOEMAKER
There was once a shoemaker, who worked very hard and was very
honest: but still he could not earn enough to live upon; and at last
all he had in the world was gone, save just leather enough to make
one pair of shoes.
Then he cut his leather out, all ready to make up the next day,
meaning to rise early in the morning to his work. His conscience
was clear and his heart light amidst all his troubles; so he went
peaceably to bed, left all his cares to Heaven, and soon fell asleep.
In the morning after he had said his prayers, he sat himself down to
his work; when, to his great wonder, there stood the shoes all ready
made, upon the table. The good man knew not what to say or think
at such an odd thing happening. He looked at the workmanship;
there was not one false stitch in the whole job; all was so neat and
true, that it was quite a masterpiece.
The same day a customer came in, and the shoes suited him so well
that he willingly paid a price higher than usual for them; and the
poor shoemaker, with the money, bought leather enough to make
two pairs more. In the evening he cut out the work, and went to
bed early, that he might get up and begin betimes next day; but he
was saved all the trouble, for when he got up in the morning the
work was done ready to his hand. Soon in came buyers, who paid
him handsomely for his goods, so that he bought leather enough
for four pair more. He cut out the work again overnight and found
it done in the morning, as before; and so it went on for some time:
what was got ready in the evening was always done by daybreak,
and the good man soon became thriving and well off again.
One evening, about Christmas-time, as he and his wife were sitting

danced and capered and sprang about, as merry as could be; till at
last they danced out at the door, and away over the green.
The good couple saw them no more; but everything went well with
them from that time forward, as long as they lived.